An Egyptian court sentenced 87 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to three years in jail each in two separate cases Thursday for charges including rioting, thuggery and weapons possession, a judicial source said.

In one case, a court sentenced 63 Brotherhood supporters to three years in jail each in what was the biggest number of Islamists sentenced in one case since the army-backed authorities began cracking down on the movement after former President Mohammed Mursi was deposed in July.

The judge set a bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($720) which allows them to avoid prison while they appeal the verdict. The ruling also includes a fine of 50,000 pounds per person.

In a separate case, another 24 Brotherhood supporters were also sentenced to three years in prison, with labor, over clashes around the same time in a different part of Cairo.

The charges against them included rioting, illegal gathering, attacking the police and belonging to an armed terrorist gang.

The government accuses the Brotherhood of turning to violence since the army deposed Mursi after mass protests against his rule. The group says it is committed to peaceful protest.

(Reuters, Al-Akhbar)

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